Support means for cutout housing



Dec. 6, 1955 R. E. KOCH SUPPORT MEANS FOR CUTOUT HOUSING Filed Aug. 25, 1954 United States Patent SUPPORT MEANS FOR CUTOUT HOUSING Robert E. Koch, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1954, Serial No. 452,117

5 Claims. (Cl. 20il-133) This invention relates to means for supporting electrical apparatus, and more particularly, to means for supporting the electrical insulating material housing of an enclosed fused cutout from a pole line or the like.

In the prior art, it is well known to support the porcelain housing of an enclosed fused cutout from a pole line or the like by cementing one end of a support bracket into' a cavity formed in the outer side of the rear wall of the housing. One form of such cemented support bracket is disclosed in my copending Koch and Smith patent application Serial No. 375,902, filed August 24, 1953, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. In said copending application, an enclosed fused cutout has a pair of spaced terminal contacts positioned within the housing which are spanned by a fuse tube having a fuse link therein. When the fuse link is ruptured, deionizing gases generated in the fuse tube are expelled out of the lower open end of the fuse tube. Recoil of the fuse tube imposes large stresses on the cemented connection of the support bracket to the housing. Accordingly, the interrupting rating of the fused cutout is limited by the reliability of said cemented connection and the strength of the portions of the porcelain housing adjacent to said cemented connection. 'As is well known in the art, porcelain is strongest in compression. Therefore, it is very desirable that the connection of a support bracket to a porcelain housing place the porce lain in compression as contrasted to tension. The'cement in the cavity of said cemented connection sometimes puts tensile forces on the porcelain surrounding said cavity due to unequal contraction and expansion of the cement and porcelain. Likewise, it is desirable that the recoil forces of the fuse tube upon rupture of the fuse link therein be transmitted to the porcelain portions connected to the support bracket as compressive forces. Additionally, in connecting a support bracket to a housing adequate external flash-over distances between the terminal contacts and the support bracket must be provided to insure against a short circuit. 1

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved connection between the supporting bracket and the porcelain housing of an enclosed fused cutout whereby porcelain portions of said housing adjacent to said connection are placed primarily in compression and wherein adequate external flashover distances are provided.

In an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing, my invention comprises a vertically extending integral rib formed in the outer side of the rear wall of said housing, said rib positioned approximately equidistantly of the side walls of said housing, a metallic strap for supporting said housing, said strap connected to said rib by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member embracing said rib and connected thereto by bolts extending through said legs and rib.

In an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing, my invention further comprises three vertically Patented Dec. 6, 1955 ice extending ribs formed in the outer side of the rear wall of said housing, the two outermost of said three ribs comprising integral rearward extensions of the two side walls of said housing, the central one of said three ribs positioned approximately equidistantly of said two outermost ribs and comprising an integral rearward projecs tion formed on said rear wall outer side, a metallic bracket for suspending said housing, said bracket connected to said central rib by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member embracing said central rib and clamped thereto by bolts extending through said legs and central rib.

In an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing, my invention further comprises a socket formed in the outer side of the rear wall of said housing a vertically and rearwardly extending web formed in said socket and comprising an integral portion of said housing, said socket and web disposed approximately centrally of the side walls of said housing, a metallic strap for supporting said housing, said strap connected to said web by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member disposed in a like horizontal plane and embracing said web and connected thereto by bolts extending through said legs and web.

My invention further comprises an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing having the central portion of the rear wall thereof depressed towards the front of said housing, the side walls of said housing adjacent said depressed central portion extending rear.- wardly thereof, a vertically disposed web integrally and rearwardly projecting from said depressed central portion approximatelyequidistantly of said side walls, a metallic strap for supporting said housing, said strap connected to said web by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member embracing said web and clamped thereto by bolts extending through legs and web.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofmy invention, the section being taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of my invention. Like reference numerals will. be used throughout the various figures to indicate identical parts.

Referring now to the drawing, shown therein is an upright electrical insulating material or porcelain box-like housing 1 of an electrical apparatus such as an enclosed fused cutout. Formed in the outer side of the rear wall 5 are three vertically disposed and rearwardly extending ribs or webs 2, 3, and 4. Ribs or webs 2 to 4 comprise integrally molded porcelain portions of the porcelain housing 1.. By referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen therefrom that the longitudinally central portion 5 of rear wall 5 of housing 1 is depressed or bulged toward the front of housing 1. Portions of housing side walls 6 and 7 adjacent, to depressed central portion 5 extend rearwardly thereof and comprise the outer ribs or webs 2 and 4 respectively. The webs 2 and 4 together with the depressed, central portion 5' define a socket 8 orthe like formed in the outer side of the rear wall 5 of the housing 1. Said socket 8 is divided into two mutually isolated portions by-central web 3 which comprises a rearwardly extending The housing 1 is supported or suspended from a not shown pole line or the like by a metallic strap or bracket 9 connected to the central rib 3 by a metallic U-shaped clamping member 10. Strap 9 is connected to the base portion of the U-shaped member 10 by welding or the like. The legs of the U-shaped member 10 are each disposed in a like horizontal plane and embrace the central web 3. In the inner endmost portions of the U-shaped member legs are formed apertures 11, and in the innermost central portion of the central web 3 is formed an aperture 12. The apertures 11 and 12 are aligned with respect to each other and a threaded headed bolt 13 extends therethrough. The aperture 12 has an elastic or plastic cushion or buffer sleeve or bushing 14 therein disposed between the U-shaped member legs about bolt 13. Another pair of apertures 15 are formed in the U-shaped member legs between the apertures 11 and the U-shaped member base portion. A semi-circular groove or notch 16 is formed in the rearmost edge of rib 3 centrally thereof. Apertures 15 and notch 16 register with respect to each other and a bolt 17, similar to bolt 13, passes therethrough. Also, a cushion or buffer 18, similar to cushion or buffer 14, is disposed in groove 16 between the U- shaped member legs about bolt 17. Lock washers 19 and nuts 20 on the threaded ends of the bolts 13 and 17 clamp the U-shaped member legs against opposite sides of the central web 3 for broad flat surface engagement therewith and place central web 3 primarily only in compression. If the sleeves 14 and 18 are to be elastic they may be constructed out of rubber. A plastic sleeve which has operated admirably as a buffer is a paper base phenolic resin impregnated tube. However, it will be obvious that soft metallic bushings can also be used as cushions.

To facilitate access to the heads of bolts 13 and 17 with a screwdriver or the like, an aperture 21 is formed in the rib 2 opposite to the head of inner bolt 13, and a semi-circular groove or notch 22 is formed in the rearmost edge of web 4 opposite to the head of outer bolt 17. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, when the not shown fuse tube within cutout housing 1 recoils upwardly or downwardly, depending upon the internal construction of the fused cutout, the porcelain portions of central rib 3 about the lower or upper outlines respectively of the aperture 12 and notch 16 will be placed primarily only in compression. Also, the cushions 14 and 18 will absorb some of said recoil forces during the cushioned transmission thereof from the central rib 3 to the hanger or strap 9. Preferably the outermost ribs 2 and 4 extend a substantial distance rearwardly of the depressed rear wall central portion 5', for instance as far back or rearwardly further than the central rib 3, to maintain adequate external flashover distances between the not shown terminal contacts in housing 1 along the outer surfaces of side wall 6 and 7 to the metallic supporting means hardware to insure against a short circuit therebetween.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and therefore it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an upright box-like porcelain housing, a vertically disposed rearwardly extending porcelain web integrally and perpendicularly extending from the outer side of the rear wall of said housing, said web positioned approximately centrally of opposite ends and sides of said housing, a metallic U-shaped clamping member having the legs thereof disposed in a like horizontal plane embracing opposite sides of said web, a pair of aligned apertures formed in the ends of said legs remote from the base portion of said U-shaped member, another pair of aligned apertures formed in said legs between said ends and base portion, said first mentioned pair of apertures registering with an aperture formed in the innermost portion of said web and a bolt extending therethrough, said another pair of apertures registering with a semicircular groove formed in the rearmost edge of said web and another bolt extending therethrough, and a sleeve-like cushion disposed in said web aperture and groove between said legs about said bolts.

2. In an upright box-like electrical insulating material housing, a socket formed in the outer side of the rear wall of said housing, a vertically disposed rib formed in said socket dividing said socket into two mutually isolated portions, said rib comprising an integral electrical insulating material portion of said housing, said socket and rib disposed approximately centrally of the side walls and opposite ends of said housing, said rib extending substantially parallel to said side walls, a U- shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U- shaped member disposed in an identical horizontal plane and embracing said rib, aligned apertures formed in said legs and rib having a bolt extending therethrough, and a sleeve-like cushion disposed about said bolt between said legs.

3. An upright box-like electrical insulating material housing having the longitudinally central portion of the rear wall thereof depressed towards the front of said housing, the side walls of said housing adjacent said depressed central portion extending rearwardly thereof, a vertically disposed web integrally and rearwardly projecting from said depressed central portion approximately equidistantly of said side walls, a metallic strap for supporting said housing, said strap connected to said web by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member embracing said web and connected thereto by bolts extending through said legs and web.

4. In an upright box-like porcelain housing, the longitudinally central portion of the rear wall thereof depressed towards the front of said housing, the side walls of said housing adjacent said depressed central portion extending rearwardly thereof and defining therewith a socket, said socket divided into two mutually isolated portions by a porcelain vertically disposed web extending rearwardly, perpendicularly, and integrally from said depressed central portion, said socket and said web disposed approximately equidistantly of said side walls, a metallic strap for supporting said housing, said strap connected to said web by a U-shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U-shaped member disposed in an identical horizontal plane and embracing said web, an aperture formed in the inner endmost portion of each of said legs and in the inner portion of said web, said apertures aligned with each other and a bolt extending therethrough, another aperture formed in each of said legs between first mentioned leg apertures and the base portion of said U-shaped member, a notch formed in the rearmost edge of said web, said another aperture and notch aligned with each other and a bolt extending therethrough.

5. In a generally upright box-like porcelain housing, the longitudinally central portion of the rear wall thereof depressed towards the front of said housing, the side walls of said housing adjacent said depressed central portion extending rearwardly thereof and defining therewith a socket, said socket divided into two mutually isolated portions by a vertically disposed porcelain web extending rearwardly, perpendicularly, and integrally from said depressed central portion, said socket and said web disposed approximately centrally of said side walls and opposite ends of said housing, said web disposed substantially parallel to said side walls, a metallic strap for supporting said housing connected to said web by a U- shaped metallic clamping member, the legs of said U- shaped member disposed in an identical horizontal plane and embracing said web, an aperture formed in the inner endmost portion of each of said legs and in the inner References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Robinson Mar. 17, 1925 Steinrneyer Apr. 28, 1931 Pittman et a1 May 9, 1939 Kyle June 15, 1943 Graham Sept. 19, 1950 

